To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 April 1794
From Alexander Hamilton
[Philadelphia] April 30 1794
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President of the United States and encloses the draft of a Passport for the President’s signature intended for the Ship Hope, now at Charleston, belonging to Mr Le Maigre of Philadelphia.1 If the Passport is granted it will be transmitted to the Collector of Charleston to insert the name of the Captain, which is not known.2
A. Hamilton
There is an opportunity today for Charleton which mister Le Maigre is desirous of embracing.3
LB, DLC:GW.
1. The ship Hope, Capt. William Moodie, was at this time in Charleston, S.C., with a cargo of sugar, cotton, and coffee from the West Indies. By late June it had returned to Philadelphia with a cargo of rice, and by July, Philadelphia merchant Peter LeMaigre was advertising the ship for sale (City Gazette and Daily Advertiser [Charleston], 30 April and 31 May); Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, 30 June and 2 July).
2. Any letter from Hamilton to Isaac Holmes regarding this ship has not been identified.
3. The opportunity may have been the chance to send the passport to Charleston aboard the schooner Industry, whose anticipated sailing for Charleston on 1 May was advertised in the 25 April issue of the Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser.